Stormont House Agreement is not solution to Legacy Issues Says Beattie

There has been much said about the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill with one thing being certain, the Bill does not hold universal support in Northern Ireland, the wider United Kingdom or in Ireland.

The actions of the Secretary of State (SoS) for Northern Ireland to repeal and replace the Bill have begun, yet this has also come under criticism from various quarters.

UUP Leader Doug Beattie said: “The main sticking point seems to be that the SoS will have the power to redact information from reports, post-investigation, that may threaten national security.

“Many would see this as fundamental to the security of the United Kingdom while some will see it as an attempt to keep information from families.

“Both groups can’t be right it would seem, yet both are right in some way. Recently we learned that some information failed to reach Operation KENOVA during the investigation stage that may have affected the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decision not to charge anyone.

“This information is now being reassessed. While in an unstable world national security is more important than ever and any information released to compromise that security could have an effect globally.  

“These failings are something the Ulster Unionist Party have raised since the days of the Stormont House Agreement (SHA) which, as a party, we never supported.

“Our alternatives, which would see the PSNI Legacy Investigation Branch resourced fully, and the PPS funded to establish a dedicated legacy arm to the service, are still as valid today as they were when we proposed them.

“There were many flaws in the SHA which we have highlighted often. The SHA was geographically fixed meaning those kidnapped, taken across the border, tortured, and murdered would not receive an investigation. 

“And those who had an Historical Enquiries Team (HET) desktop review would also not get an investigation. While those left blind, burned, disabled, lost limbs, or left in a wheelchair, if there was no fatality in the incident that resulted in their injury, would not get an investigation.

“Yet within these parameters the other major parties in Northern Ireland supported and continue to support the SHA, as does the Irish Government.

“It is also worth noting the SHA made it quite clear.  Every single scrap on information relating to a Troubles’ murder would be provided to the investigators. Only once the investigation is complete would any report be redacted for national security purposes; this would be cleared through the correct processes via a High Court Judge.

“The same principle from the SHA would apply to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Again, all the main political parties signed up to this in the SHA while only the Ulster Unionist Party refused to do so.”

Doug Beattie added: “Now let’s look at what the Irish Government are doing regarding legacy. The answer is nothing, yet nobody is climbing the walls to hold them to account. 

“Even the events surrounding the Omagh Bombing warranted a formal inquiry in Ireland, yet they are doing nothing and sadly the United Kingdom government are not holding them to account.

“Within the SHA, the Irish Government did agree to pass on information, relevant to the troubles, for investigation.  However, this information would be redacted prior to investigation so all the information would not be provided to the investigators. 

“Where is the outcry from political parties regarding this clear attempt by the Irish Government to distance themselves from the multiple murders and maiming of UK citizens which originated from their sovereign territory.

“They are either redacting due to national security issues or they are hiding information. Where is the challenge?

“Civil court cases into troubles related incidents will be reopened as will inquests be restarted. Yet the lead party in Stormont, who shouted loudest about the ending of Troubles-related inquests, refused to engage with the Kingsmill inquest.

“This lack of engagement by Sinn Fein meant that families of those murdered at Kingsmill never received the truth and that is being compounded by the delay in releasing the Ombudsman report into the atrocity.

“It is true that legacy is complicated, but it will never conclude if those who were involved refuse to play their part in bringing information forward that can assist with closure for the survivors. 

“Legacy should be victims’-families focused but it must also be justice focused even if there is now an expectation that few will be held to account for their part in our troubles that has scarred Northern Ireland for the last 50 years.”